The Down Low
In the past two weeks, the 2016 presidential debate has become more and more dramatic. The sexual assault allegations made against Trump from nine different women and the hacked emails released by WikiLeaks are giving vice presidential candidates, Mike Pence and Tim Kaine, a lot of ground to cover in defending their running mates. Yesterday, in an interview with ABC News, Tim Kaine was asked about why there was not more wiggle room in between Clinton and Trump’s poll numbers even after these sexual assault accusations towards Trump had surfaced. Kaine’s use of language in his response is similar to that of the inaugural address given by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. He does this in order to convince voters that Trump is attempting to instill fear in order to win their votes.
Wilder and Wilder
Vice presidential candidate, Tim Kaine, was asked by Martha Raddatz on ABC News why there was not a bigger difference in numbers between his running mate, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump after the sexual assault accusations brought out against Donald Trump in the last week. Kaine first responded by saying that from the beginning they knew it would be a tight race and,”We like where we are in the states that matter.” He went on to explain Trump’s behavior regarding the election being ‘rigged’ saying, “Donald Trump has started to go wilder and wilder.” Kaine makes an interesting point here. He is using the unstable image the democratic party has given to Trump in order to prove he is unqualified to be president. Kaine is attacking Trump’s record in order to appeal to target audiences, which is currently undecided voters. Kaine goes on to describe Trump’s accusations of the election by saying, “He has been making scorched-earth claims about the election being rigged because he lost both presidential debates.” This claim again proves Kaine is trying to make Trump look ridiculous and unqualified. Although these tactics seem to be effective, Kaine’s next claim is brilliant, in my opinion.
Clowns or Donald Trump?
In regard to Trump’s claim about the election Kaine says, “He should not be engaging in scare tactics.” Kaine is claiming Trump’s newest angle to sway undecided voters is by scaring them! It seems as though Kaine is saying, we voters, should not listen to claims that would cause us to be fearful of the future, which is similar to the way F.D.R described how Americans should look at the future of America in 1932, without fear. That the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, and guess what? Kaine’s claims would lead one to think Trump is attempting to instill fear in voters, and you should not listen to his absurd accusations.